Nestled in her favorite nook of the Shadow Gallery, Evey sat with a fleece blanket strewn across her lap as she engrossed herself in one of her new pregnancy books that V had bought for them. Of course he had already read the book twice leaving her completely in the dust in just a matter of two weeks. She always wondered how he managed to read so many books in such a short amount of time, but she figured without a revolution to plan and vengeful murders to plot he didn't really have much else to look forward to. This thought made her snicker quietly.

It was nearing the end of September and her expected due date was in mid December. She frequently visited her doctor Jonathan Crowe as much as possible for check ups and advice. V had not taken her diet lightly and always found a way to provide her with fresh meats, fruits and vegetables to keep her and the baby healthy per Jonathan's recommendations. He also made sure that she was taking her vitamins and getting enough exercise.

Lately with his newfound persona as Atticus Coulson they frequently made trips to town to support the local businesses that had been taking off since the destruction of Norsefire. At first V felt hesitant to emerge into society as a somewhat normal man, but for appearances sake he had to support and protect Evey with her growing status as "Princess."

The people of England were in love with the couple and often sent baby gifts to her office. It started to become a bit overwhelming the closer she got to her due date. As intimidating as it was for her to become a celebrity, it gave her encouragement to continue to work hard and to stand up for the rights of their newborn country. She spoke frequently at charity events, social gatherings, political conventions and so forth to be one with her Nation. She also visited with the locals on a personal level and always took her time seeing and being involved with the community.

V was always worried for her safety and constantly warned her of the dangers she faced when going out alone to these events, but she dismissed him most of the time despite his warnings. She felt as though she was always cautious and either V or Mr. Finch would always be near if she felt unsafe. Evey loved England and she loved the direction their country was taking now that reasonable people were running for the election and cared just as much for the growth of their society just as much as she did. Therefore, she felt as though she had nothing to worry about.

Being lost in thought for a few moments, she smiled to herself as she began to drift away from her book and to the actual baby that resided within her. She placed her hand atop of her stomach and slowly caressed the rather large bump. Now that she was entering the third trimester of her pregnancy she often resided within her home to work and to avoid too much strenuous activity. V had very graciously spoiled her with gifts of her favorite bath bombs, lotions, candles, soft clothes and treats to keep her happy and comfortable. She felt so blessed then to know how lucky she was to have him in her life.

There had been times where she had felt sadness over the thought of not having her family there to enjoy this new blessing with her. She missed her mother so very much and wished she could talk to her and seek out her comfort during this time. However, whenever she began to feel sad she remembered just how amazing it was to have V with her there and to know how much he loved her and cherished her. She didn't quite feel as though she deserved his kindness on the days when she wasn't feeling quite well, but despite that he loved her anyway and did his best to keep her satisfied.

As she reflected on these things she didn't even notice V had entered the room and knelt down beside her. He placed a gloved hand on the crook of her elbow and she jumped slightly at the touch. Chuckling softly, he said, "I'm sorry I did not mean to frighten you."

A warm smile touched the corners of her lips and she shook her head, "It's alright. I guess I was just a little lost in my own thoughts."

"What were you thinking?" he asked curiously as he moved to sit beside her on the chaise lounge.

She moved comfortably to where her legs were stretched out over his lap and she sighed, "I was thinking about how much I love you and how far we've come as a couple over the past few years."

V nodded his head thoughtfully, venturing his hands down her legs to massage any aches or pains she may have had, "I do believe it took us some time for us to get to this point."

"Do you remember our first kiss?" she asked, a small smile forming to her lips.

Blushing a bit, he was grateful she could not see his reaction as he recalled the treasured event, "Yes…and it wasn't very pleasant."

Giggling softly, she nudged his chest with her foot and shook her head, "I disagree. It was pleasant…we just needed some practice."

Thinking back to this particular moment in time, V recalled it quite vividly. It was after he had been back at the Shadow Gallery for over two months. They were bickering a lot about where they stood as a couple and Evey was frustrated with him for being so difficult. No matter how many times she confessed her feelings for him she always hit a brick wall. She knew he was trying, but it also felt as though he wasn't giving them as much of a chance as they deserved. They constantly spoke of how it was destiny for him to get off that train and to find the motivation to come back to her. She knew that it was fate and he questioned whether or not he was good enough for her.

"In truth, you are probably not, but I don't care about that. I love you with all my heart, V." he remembered her saying.

"Let me love you, let me show you how I feel. This is not a mistake; this is not something you or I will regret. Just let me love you."

The way she had pleaded with him somehow convinced him of his stupidity and in the darkness of his bedroom he removed the mask and allowed her to feel the contours and shapes of his features. Soon enough her lips tried to find his and she kissed his face multiple times before she found his lips. He felt embarrassed in not knowing how to do it properly, but it didn't seem to phase her in the slightest and he beckoned her to teach him.

As he was being pulled away from his own thoughts, her smile remained as he looked over at her.

"This kind of love has changed the both of us, I believe," he said softly.

"Isn't that what love is supposed to do?" she questioned him thoughtfully.

"Yes, I believe so."

For a moment they looked at each other; their breathing even and slow. Evey felt as though her expressions of love were clear in her eyes, something she wished she could see in his. When V portrayed Atticus she constantly found herself mystified in his presence. Even though the prosthetics concealed his true face she felt as though she could catch glimpses into his actual appearance. His eyes were so expressive and his lips would quirk into the tiniest of smirks when he would catch her staring at him. Sometimes she would feel guilty for admiring the presence of his falsehood. Atticus Coulson was not truly V and could be deciphered as a completely different person. Evey often wondered what that did to V's psyche and his self confidence, but she didn't bring up the subject much. She figured that if it truly bothered him he would express with her his feelings on the matter since they kept no secrets from one another.

"V, could I ask you something?"

"Anything," he replied simply.

"How much do you really think has changed in over a year between us?"

V smirked beneath the mask and turned his attention to her swollen stomach, "I think you know the answer to that question, my dear."

She half smiled at his response and shrugged, "Perhaps I do, but I was wondering if anything had changed significantly since then?"

"Considering you are very much pregnant with my child at the moment, I would say so. However, if you are speaking of something else you should consider being more specific," he replied.

Evey made a face at him and looked away, feeling the heat prickle up to her cheeks. She knew very well that it was easier said than done to question him about removing his mask and the more she thought about it the less confident she had become in herself. Shaking her head, her honey-blonde curls briefly kissed the edges of her cheeks and she hid beneath them in embarrassment.

"Never mind, don't worry about it. Forget I asked you any of this, V."

Tilting his head to the side ever so slightly, V reached to cup her chin and brush the hair from her face.

"Truly, I would not hang a dog by my will, much more a man who hath any honesty in him," he quoted softly.

Hesitating for a moment, she shrugged and tucked a curl behind her ear, wrapping the fleece blanket tightly across her middle. He was studying her carefully as if she were an unusual specimen under a microscope. The warmth of his gloved hand on her leg made her feel slightly nervous as she wondered how she could ever bring up the questions she truly desired to have answered even though she had just finished rationalizing that they could be honest with one another. Why did this have to be so confusing?

"I hope you know that when you are ready to tell me I will listen, Evey," said V as he took note of her discomfort. The last thing he wanted to do was to make her feel on edge and he tried to dismiss her negativity by tracing small patterns onto her skin.

"I know," she whispered.


The next day, Evey was rummaging through her rather small closet to find a dress suitable enough for Willard Bass's party that evening.

This would be the first of many invites they would receive during the course of the final weeks of the election. Both V and Mr. Finch were rather hesitant about attending the gatherings, but Evey had insisted that it would be rude for them not to attend. After all, Willard Bass wasn't the only one giving a party, he just happened to be the first to do so.

"Found anything yet?" V asked as he made his presence known in the room.

Evey smirked and looked over her shoulder to find him dressed in his tux for that evening. He still adorned the mask and wig for that it would take him a while to put on the prosthetics.

"No, sadly. I have no idea what to wear. I feel like a gigantic whale and I know none of my normal clothes will fit."

V chuckled slightly and approached her closet, "I don't think you look like a whale, my dear. You are still very small."

Rolling her eyes, she placed a gentle hand on his arm to study his appearance, "You are supposed to say those sort of things to me. I mustn't pay you too much mind."

"I will always say the truth even if I find it unpleasant," he admitted sheepishly.

Thwacking his arm playfully, she tugged on the fabric of his blazer to get a better look of his appearance.

"You're looking very smart, where did you get that suit?" she asked.

He shrugged and replied slyly, "I have my ways."

"Do you mean Atticus has his ways or you?"

"Both. I find myself and Atticus have rather similar methods in achieving what we need through the use of charm and persuasion. In any case I didn't steal it if that's what you are alluding to. I merely borrowed it for this one occasion."

Evey giggled and shook her head, "Well that's a relief. Also, mind you that your charm and persuasion might work on the storekeepers but it won't on me."

"How do you know it hasn't already?" he challenged, making Evey squirm slightly under his watchful gaze.

"Hush you. We need to hurry and get ready for this event. I haven't even begun to get ready and yet I am already wishing it was over. Why did I say yes to this again?" She already knew the answer to this question even though she posed it on him. V crossed his arms thoughtfully in front of his chest and sighed, "God only knows why. I think it might have been something along the lines of "obligation" and "fairness."

"Political mumbo-jumbo, I know. Do remind me to never say yes to one of these things again without the proper attire."

"You'll find something suitable, I promise. Come into my bedroom with me for a moment," he said as he offered her his arm.

Taking it reluctantly she allowed him to lead her there and once she stepped through the door she noticed a bag hanging from the door of his closet. Looking up at him skeptically he gestured for her to take a better look. Unzipping the bag carefully she unveiled a beautiful velvet black and sophisticated dress that was short sleeved and ran to her knees. She smiled and ran her hands over the soft fabric and brought it up to her cheek for a better feel.

"This is quite lovely, V, but how do you know it will fit?" she asked him skeptically as she turned around to find Guy Fawkes smiling broadly back at her.

"Try it on and let me know. It was just a guess, really."

"Hopefully you're as good at guessing my size as you are with your elegant charm and wit on helpless store keepers," she remarked teasingly.

Walking over to his full length mirror she began to remove her shirt and sweat pants from her body. At this point in their relationship and her pregnancy, Evey didn't mind being nude in front of him. She knew that he would look away just because he was a gentleman, but she often encouraged him to come closer to her and to feel her growing stomach and to touch her in general.

She thought back to when they had first started figuring out their feelings for one another and how bashful he was at touching her. It was an endless pursuit on her part to convince him that she was not some thorny monster and that she wanted him to touch her. It was hard for him to understand how to love her and that her touch would always be loving and kind. They would speak of his past in the Resettlement Camps and how often he was tortured ruthlessly by his "nurses" and other "caretakers." It pained him to be so nervous for that in the moments he was able to touch her it brought him into a state of peace. He would get confused and often experience bouts of depression in not being able to process those feelings as quickly as she did. However, she never left and she never judged him. She was thoughtful, patient and she was good at reminding herself not to raise her voice at him.

Once he started to realize that she was not going to reject him, his reserve began to break and his heart began to open up for her. They started off slow, holding hands without his gloves on the couch. It was rather grade school to Evey to start off in such a way, but she loved how gentle his touch was in contrast to the harshness of his dark persona. They then began to cuddle more regularly on the couch while they were watching a movie and then on the bed when he would tuck her in at night. She remembered several mornings that he would actually stay with her in the bed and be sound asleep when she would wake in the morning, giving her an opportunity to gaze at him lovingly without him staring back.

Their first kiss would be the biggest step of all, giving Evey the opportunity to touch his face without the barriers of the mask. She remembered giggling softly at him when they were laying on his bed one night, practicing their newfound love for one another. It was dark so she could not see his true self, but he would allow her to feel him without the mask for a second time.

"I'm sorry Evey, I feel so embarrassed to admit that I have no idea what I'm doing," he spoke quietly, sadly even.

She shook her head rapidly and placed a gentle finger against his surprisingly soft lips, "Don't apologize. I'm happy to teach you."

Beckoning him to come closer, she placed her small hand against his square jawline and traced his features with the tip of her fingers. His lips parted slightly and he uttered a hesitant breath, unsure of whether or not to take the plunge or allow her to lead. She moved her head closer to his and he met her with a soft peck. Instead of backing away, however, she kept herself rooted in her position and she grazed his bottom lip with her tongue. In response he let out a small laugh and she asked him, startled, if she were moving too fast.

"It just tickled a bit, please forgive me," he whispered as he pulled her closer, taking his ungloved hand and knotting it in her short hair.

It came as a surprise to her when he mimicked her move and sought permission to enter her mouth fully. She accepted his willing gesture and kissed him deeply, yet slowly, causing them both to be submerged within each other's embrace. The kiss lasted forever it seemed and when they were done V did not try to run away from her. Instead he requested they stay locked within each other's arms for the remainder of the night.

It was truly the best second kiss she had ever shared with anyone.

Calling her from her thoughts, she didn't even realize V had moved to help her put on the dress. He helped steady her as she relied on him for support to slide the dress over her figure and to zip it up in the back.

Giving him a bewildered look, she placed a hand on her hip and began to inspect herself from all angles.

"V, I'm so impressed. You did such a great job guessing my size! I love it!" she exclaimed, grinning toothily at him as he bowed his head.

"Anything for you, Evey. I'm glad you like it."

She reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling him closer to her body so she could thank him properly for his gift. He accepted her open arms and squeezed her carefully, being sure not to harm her or their child.

"Do you still feel like a giant whale?" he asked her jokingly.

"Yes and no. I wasn't expecting it to be so tight, but it is surprisingly form fitting," she said.

Giving her one last squeeze he let her go and gestured to his vanity where he had already set out his supplies to transform into Atticus.

Already knowing that was her queue to leave, she merely smiled at him and kissed the porcelain mask of Guy Fawkes before trotting off to find a pair of shoes to match her outfit.


Evey felt rather giddy in her new outfit as she admired every detail of the dress and her new shoes. She decided to let her curls dangle loosely that night for a more natural look and it made her happy to finally feel comfortable in a nice dress. It had been so long since she had gotten to dress up for a special occasion and she wondered if V would ever be able to get used to doing these sort of things with her.

A part of her wondered if he enjoyed it more than he let on considering he loved pretending to be different characters. She prayed that his portrayal of Atticus would not make him feel burdened and she also wondered if he ever wanted to take back what he said about coming into the public eye to support her. Trying to shake the thoughts from her head, she searched her jewelry box for a velvet black choker necklace and reached to put it on. When she was finally satisfied she strolled out of her room to approach the main room of the Gallery. There standing by the Wurlitzer, V had his hands over the glass box as he searched for a song. She smiled when she studied the back of him, the dark hair of the wig contrasting nicely with his elegant and form fitting suit. Evey couldn't help but giggle at the thought of V actually having decent taste in clothes. She could only figure he must have done a lot of research to play the part of his new character.

"How do I look?" she asked him as she announced her presence by twirling around to show off her outfit.

V turned around to face her and kept his hands planted behind him on the Wurlitzer. Smiling impishly, he nodded, his light blue eyes encompassing her appearance. She was beautiful.

"You look amazing," he remarked genuinely, his gaze faltering from hers shyly as she approached him.

Feeling shy herself she placed her hands behind her back and stood in front of him, still not able to reach his height even in her very high heels.

"Are you sure you will be comfortable in those?" he asked, gesturing to her feet.

She shook her head, "I don't anticipate it. I'm planning on bringing another pair once my feet get tired."

"Ahh, I see. Good choice."

"Mhm," she said, biting her bottom lip as she tried to contain her excitement.

He tentatively reached out for her hands and she noticed he was not wearing any gloves. The red blotchy skin that adorned his palms and fingers did not resemble his smooth, blemish free skin on his face and she wondered what he would do to conceal them.

"I plan on wearing gloves this evening," he said as he ran his thumbs over her knuckles, automatically knowing what she was thinking.

"I still can't believe how convincing you look. Your work is amazing," she said as she scanned his face with her eyes.

V looked away apprehensively, still finding it difficult to hold her gaze without the protection of the mask. Even after these past two years he still caught himself feeling nervous in her presence.

"Thank you, I can't believe it myself to be honest," he admitted, his tone a bit unsure.

She gave his hands a gentle squeeze and smiled up at him, "Are you excited for this evening?"

Giving her a gentle squeeze back, he sighed and shrugged his shoulders, "Not particularly, but I know you are and I want to do my best at being supportive."

"You've honestly been very supportive over these past few months. I know this isn't your thing, but just think, because of you we can actually have these sort of gatherings and they are for the benefit of our people, not for ourselves. We are all working together to take back what was stolen from us and we all owe it to you, V." Her tone was hopeful, powerful enough to persuade him of his original opinion. He knew she was right. It was very important that these things were happening and he was grateful that he was alive to be able to watch his beloved make a stand for the country she loved.

"It takes a great deal of courage to be in the place that you are in, Evey. I hope you know just how proud of you I am," he said as he raised his eyes to look at her. His gaze was loving and it made her blush when she returned his warmth. Feeling completely lost in his eyes, she didn't even realize that he had pulled her closer and tilted her chin up so that he could brush a small kiss upon her lips. They were so smooth and seemed to be able to capture her own with hardly any effort. What amazed her even more was that they felt the exact same as when she had kissed him without any mask on at all. Forces of electricity passed between them and when they released their connection somehow still remained.

"I love you," she breathed, keeping her position.

A small smile formed over his cheeks and he gently rested his forehead to hers, "I love you, Evey."


There was a certain joyful air to the city of London that evening as V and Evey made their way into town. The happiness of the newly rebuilt city was contagious to its inhabitants and a warm feeling of pride and amazement filled Evey's soul at the sight of it. To have V with her in this moment, to experience the beauty of their accomplishments, was exhilarating. Two years ago she wouldn't have been able to imagine a world that was rid of hate and power lust. It was a dream come true.

"How are you feeling, Atticus?" she asked, her lips quirking into a strange smile when she said the name. In order to keep up with appearances Evey was forced to call him by his stage name in front of their driver who initially paid them no mind.

"I'm quite well my dear. Are you nervous?" he queried, reaching to grab her hand within his.

"Not at all. It's been quite some time since I have been able to get dressed up. I'm also really excited to meet with everyone and for you to meet the candidates," Her enthusiasm brought a great smile to his lips as he tried to imagine Evey being a social butterfly. In truth he was not sure of how much she would change after he had imprisoned her. Those dark memories continuously haunted him and it sent a shiver down his spine. She had used that situation to her benefit over the past year and a half that they had been together and he wasn't so sure on how she was able to do it.

There is a romantic side to struggle, the idea of rising from the ashes. He thought solemnly to himself as he glanced down at their clasped hands between them.

What on earth did I do to have this woman love me?

He noticed Evey had given him a gentle squeeze to grasp his attention and his eyes flickered to hers for a moment before responding, "I look forward to it as well, my dear."

As the car pulled up to the flat, Evey's attention suddenly focused on the lavish party being held inside the rather large building. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head at the sight of it and felt a hint of concern. She didn't feel that it was right for the candidates to be flashing around their money and she wondered if she had made a mistake being there. Before she could even protest, the driver stepped out of the car and went to open her door. As she got out of the car she warily looked back at V as they were ushered to the front of the house.

Loud, pulsing music came from within that sent Evey's chest rattling. Her eyes sprung upward at the sound of party goer's laughter and that's when she noticed all three floors of the flat were packed with people. Why wasn't she informed on how large the guest list was?

V kept silent behind her and watched as her confused expression contorted into a look of irritation. He decided a long time ago that he would allow Evey to make her own decisions on these types of matters and thought it best to keep his opinions to himself. This was not his world to shape anymore, nor did he have the power to accept or deny silly invitations.

When they entered the apartment, the music got a bit louder as they walked through the swarm of people who covered the foyer. It was in that moment that Evey realized that this was not just members of the new council and their families, it was half the London population. People of all backgrounds and social standings interacted with one another in the most normal way possible. It was both a shock and a relief to her to witness such a thing and she wondered how on earth Mr. Bass managed to fit so many people in his home.

Fishing for V's hand, she grabbed onto the soft leather of his gloves and they walked towards the center of the apartment. They approached a large balcony that overlooked a dance floor with a DJ playing in the corner. Never seeing a party like this before, Evey turned her head to give V a bewildered look as he shrugged his shoulders and suddenly nodded to a man in the corner. Squinting her eyes, Evey was able to make out that it was Mr. Finch, hovering over by the edge of the balcony with Dominic Stone at his side.

She silently nodded at V and they began to wade through the crowd again until they reached Mr. Finch and Dominic on the other side from where they had entered.

"Well I certainly wasn't expecting this," she remarked as she began to study the atmosphere.

People were laughing, chatting and dancing all over the place as waiters came about with champagne and finger foods. Mr. Finch rolled his eyes and clutched his beer in his hand, "You're telling me. Mr. Bass had no intentions of letting this be a small get together."

"Clearly not. Have you seen him by any chance?" she asked.

"At first when we came in, but I haven't seen him in over an hour." Mr. Finch replied as he took a swig of his drink. Looking up at V, he gave him a partially sour look as he held out his hand.

"Oh, have you met my partner Dominic Stone, Mr. Coulson?" he inquired, putting heavy emphasis on his fake name. V gave him a half smile and held out his hand to the gentleman, ignoring Mr. Finch's tone, "Not that I recall. How do you do?"

"Fine, thanks. Care to have a drink with us?" Dominic asked as he returned his hand shake.

V pursed his lips together as he gave the invitation some thought and then he nodded his head agreeably, "Yes, I think I would like something. Where will I find the bar?"

As Dominic led V away to find a beverage, Evey smiled when he looked back at her to give her a wink. There was something about those crystalline blue eyes of his that made her knees weak and she blushed in response. Tugging her away from her thoughts, Mr. Finch placed a hand on her elbow and brought her to a quiet space away from the party goers.

"I have to be honest, I wasn't expecting him to invite all of London into his home. I'm really impressed that he did that," Evey said as she glanced around the environment.

The apartment was decorated rather costly and she pursed her lips at the sight of it, wondering what Mr. Bass's game was.

"Apparently he has many ties with the community. The people really love him. His house is open to visitors all the time and he is a frequent donor to the local charities that have sprung up since the end of Norsefire. From what I hear he is a very stand up bloke," he said.

Evey gave him a questioning look and shook her head, "I'm confused. I wonder where he has gotten the money to afford such luxuries as this?"

Mr. Finch shrugged his shoulders, "Apparently it is family money. His parents moved here several years ago and took their fortune with them. I think they owned a few businesses, but they were under strict regulations during the reign of Sutler. I'm not sure how much profit they had, but it was still enough for him to keep his family home and some of the businesses after the revolution,"

"That makes sense I suppose. I wonder what V was on about when he mentioned the bit that Mr. Bass used to work with fingermen?" she asked, her voice lowering slightly so that only Mr. Finch could hear.

Taking a small sip of his beer, Mr. Finch shook his head, "I tried digging into that a bit. I didn't find anything unusual about his records, but then again who knows if they have been tampered with since Sutler's reign. Since we have no proof then there is nothing we can do."

"You would think that V would have tried to sniff it out, but he hasn't mentioned it again since that night you came for dinner," she murmured, her eyes darting around to see if anyone was paying attention to them.

Mr. Finch sighed, "Believe me, the moment I get wind of something like that again I will be like a blood hound to discover the information. You can count on me."

"I know I can, thank you Eric," she said as she gave him a small smile.

They decided to change the subject and talk a bit more before they were interrupted by a booming voice from the other side of the room. Willard Bass approached them in a gracious manner, a handsome grin resting on his youthful features.

He was a tall man, maybe a bit taller than V (that Evey could figure) with long golden hair styled to slick back. His eyes were a soft emerald that seemed to brighten the moment they laid on hers. She couldn't help but notice how perfectly white his teeth were and how elegant his person was as he approached them. Had he always been so charming?

"Miss. Hammond, it is an honor to have you here. Are your needs met? Do you need me to get you a drink?" he asked, taking her hand in his to give it a soft peck.

Evey made a slight face and laughed, unsure of how to respond to such a grand gesture. She could tell Mr. Finch was not very amused.

"Mr. Bass, thank you for having me and Mr. Coulson. I appreciate your concern with my needs, but I am fine. Perhaps a glass of water would be nice though," she said as she watched him quickly fetch a waiter to fulfill her request. When he returned he offered his hand to Mr. Finch to shake and then continued to chat with them.

"The pleasure is all mine, Miss. Hammond. I'm very glad that you and Mr. Coul-, Atticus, is it not? - could make it this evening. I am very pleased with the turn out of this event. I was honestly surprised that so many were able to attend," he said just as the waiter came by with her beverage. Evey smiled and thanked the waiter before taking a sip of the drink.

"Do you plan on making a speech later?" Mr. Finch asked, eying him somewhat suspiciously.

Mr. Bass grinned and nodded his head, seemingly unaware of the tone Mr. Finch gave, "Yes, of course. That was the plan for this evening. I wanted to be able to reach the public in a personal way by hosting such a large event. I'm unsure of the particular rules we had established a few weeks ago, but nonetheless it was something I've been planning for a while."

Evey smiled and nodded her head, "I do not believe there were any rules for the events, Mr. Bass. I am looking very much forward to hearing you speak."

"You're very kind, Miss. Hammond. Say, I will catch up with the two of you later and I will be sure to find Mr. Coulson soon. It is an honor to host you all in my home," said Mr. Bass before he shook their hands again and walked off to speak with a few other guests.

Turning back to look at her friend, Evey gave him a mysterious smile, "You know, for you to somewhat approve of him I did detect a bit of hesitancy in your tone."

"I don't trust anyone, Evey. Even if they do provide free alcohol," he quipped before taking another sip of his beer.


Evey was soon reunited with V against the wall closer to the dance floor. They were enjoying being wallflowers as they people watched everyone around them.

"How are you enjoying your evening, my dear?" V asked before taking a sip of his beverage.

Smiling up at him joyfully, Evey replied, "Not bad, really. I've never really heard live music like this before."

V rolled his eyes and shook his head, "It's a shame this isn't real music."

Deep pulses thumped obnoxiously through the speakers at the front as the DJ continued to spin different beats. Evey gave him a confused look and pointed at the scene before them, "Then what do you call that?"

"Electronica."

"Isn't that a type of music?"

"Not very good music."

Making a face at him she shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know, I think I quite like it. When are you going to ask me to dance?"

"Don't be cheeky, love, I won't dance to this."

"Why not? It's music and we are at a party and I want to dance, isn't that good enough?" she asked, batting her eyelashes at him in an attempt to get him to change his mind.

"Hardly, but perhaps he could be persuaded to play a different song. I'll be right back," he said as he handed her his empty glass and marched to the front of the dance floor. Evey watched him suspiciously as he got the attention of the DJ in an effortless attempt. It didn't take very long and suddenly a melodic rhythm began to pulsate through the speakers.

As the soft beat encouraged everyone to find a partner, couples began to flock with one another as others headed off the dance floor. When V's eyes found her own he gave her a smile and gestured for her to meet him. However, just as she was about to approach him, Mr. Bass stepped before her and bowed, "May I have this dance?"

"Uh, oh, well-," she began, unsure of what to say, "I was going to find-,"

"Your date?" he asked.

Suddenly V came up beside them and shook Mr. Bass's hand, "Stealing away my date?" he questioned.

Mr. Bass chuckled and returned the hand shake, "I merely saw this beautiful woman without a partner and wished to escort her onto the dance floor. Is that alright with you, Mr. Coulson?"

Briefly glancing at Evey, V smiled and bowed his head, "You have my permission."

Before she could even protest, Evey was swept away by Mr. Bass and she turned her head to give him a stern look. V merely smirked and returned to his place against the wall.

"I hope me asking to dance with you is not an issue, Princess," said Mr. Bass as he placed his right hand on her side and moved to grab her left.

"You certainly know how to flatter a pregnant woman,"

Mr. Bass laughed and nodded, "Yes, well, you look absolutely stunning this evening. Mr. Coulson is a lucky man."

Evey blushed and narrowed her eyes away from his, "Don't think that your charm will win you any points for the election, Mr. Bass."

"I wouldn't dream of it. I am only stating what it is obvious, Miss. Hammond," he said, his mouth twitching into a crooked smile.

As they waltzed amongst the other couples on the dance floor, Evey's eyes began to search for V. She found him standing against the wall, his hands behind his back and his gaze lingering in the other direction. She wondered what it was that he could be thinking about and she wished she could catch his gaze.

Mr. Bass was an astounding dancer and he led her with such grace that she felt as though she would not be able to catch up with.

"Are you fond of dancing, Miss. Hammond?" he questioned, bringing her back to reality.

Evey smiled and shook her head, "I do like it, but I fear I'm not very good at it."

"Nonsense, you are a natural. I can tell you have had a bit of practice."

"Not really, only just a few times in my life. When did you learn to dance?" she asked.

Mr. Bass smiled and raised his head while he pondered her question, "I think my mother taught me when I was about ten years old. She loved to dance."

"Where is your mother now?" she asked, feeling reminded of the conversation she had with V the first morning she was at the Shadow Gallery.

Taking a moment to pause, there was a sadness that lingered in Mr. Bass's soft emerald eyes as he spoke, "She's dead," he murmured, "but fortunately it was not because of Norsefire."

"Was she sick?" Evey questioned.

"Yes, she had lung cancer. It took her very quickly."

Evey frowned and gave him a sincere look as they continued to dance, "I'm sorry, Mr. Bass. I know what it is like to lose a parent."

"It's alright, thank you for your concern. I understand that your parents were taken by fingermen when you were a child," he said, his tone equally as sincere. There was something about the way he looked at her that made her feel as if she could trust him and she nodded her head gravely, "Yes, they were taken for being political activists. My brother was a student at St. Mary's and was infected with the virus. He died before they were taken."

"You have been through so much, Miss. Hammond. Your words are so powerful and true that it inspires so many. I remember about two years ago when you made your first speech after the death of V. I was very touched by your story," he admitted as his eyes settled on hers. There was a moment when she felt as though she could tear up at the memory of it, but she shook her head and smiled, "I am so pleased to hear that. It's nice to know I am inspiring others to help make a difference in this new world."

Mr. Bass smiled, "Of course, Miss. Hammond. You are the face of freedom to our people and this country could not be shaped properly without you."

For some reason that she could not explain she felt peace in this moment. Talking with someone who was equally passionate about the wellbeing of their people pleased her greatly. She felt guilty for questioning his loyalty and wondered how V could hear such things about someone who clearly has a good reputation with the people of England. Was he really just that paranoid? From the beginning since she had mentioned Mr. Bass, V had been hesitant. Was he holding something back from her?

When the dance was finished, Evey dismissed herself from the dance floor and slowly made her way to where she thought V was hiding. When he was nowhere to be found, she frowned and took her phone out from her pocket and began to check her messages. Damn him for not wanting to have a phone.

Meanwhile V had moved to another location to isolate himself from the crowd of people. He was starting to grow tired of the endless commotion of the party and wished he could depart. He had fulfilled his agreement to attend the party, but he felt as though his time was up. He was standing on the balcony that overlooked the dance floor, but submerged in the shadows. His hands were stuffed into his pockets and he gazed down amongst the party goers down below, wondering if Evey had finished her dance since the song had changed to something more modern.

Without even flinching at the sudden approach of Mr. Finch, V sighed inwardly when he was forced to forfeit his peace and quiet.

"Getting tired of the festivities already, Atticus?" Mr. Finch questioned, his tone somewhat amusing.

V turned his head to the side briefly and responded, "I grow tired in the presence of people."

"Surely this is not your first time attending one of these events," Mr. Finch inquired.

Shaking his head slowly, he sighed, "I have not attended anything like this before, so yes it is my first time."

"I see, I see. I assume there will be many more events like this in your future, perhaps at your own home?"

Pursing his lips together, V narrowed his eyes at Mr. Finch's comment, but kept his face forward as he waited to see if he would continue.

"But I suppose it remains a mystery as to where Evey Hammond and Atticus Coulson reside in London." He was prying and doing so intentionally to aggravate V. He was aware that they had already spoken of what to do about purchasing a flat for them in London since Evey's old apartment had been torn down, but why Mr. Finch would bring up the subject right then was odd enough.

"We have been discussing those things, yes. What is your point with all of this, Finch?" V questioned, his head turning to face him as his tone began to turn to acid.

Mr. Finch cocked his head to the side and shrugged, "Just trying to see where your head has been since our last conversation."

"Why do you find this topic so interesting to speak of in public? Do you perhaps feel as though you are more safe to beleaguer me because Evey is near?" V sneered, his patience thinning enormously.

"You know very well why I feel the need to pressure you on this subject, V. Look around you and see the world she has become a part of. Things need to change and people want answers. They desire to know the personal life of their Princess and people are becoming suspicious. It could be dangerous for her and your unborn child if you do not make a move."

V paused a moment and suddenly let out an irritated laugh, his jaw clinching as he imagined how sweet it would be to put Eric Finch in pain. There was a deep hunger that still resided within him to punish those who trespassed against him despite how much he had changed. His temper was something that had been hard for him to control even though he managed to find ways to overcome it for Evey's sake.

Cranking his neck to the side to pop out a crick, he gave Mr. Finch a half smile, "I am not worried what others think about Evey, but I promise you that you do not need to worry about her. She is safe with me and you know I go to great lengths to see that she is protected."

"Let's hope that she does not make any enemies now because of your hesitancy," Mr. Finch replied, his features encompassing absolute seriousness.

Before V could even reply he caught a glimpse of Evey strolling up the stair case, one hand grasping the banister and the other on her stomach. It didn't take him even a minute to cross over the large crowd of people to reach her side.

"Evey, are you alright?" he asked, his countenance clearly worried.

She let out a small chuckle once she reached the top of the landing and nodded, "Oh yes, I think I've just pretty much out-danced myself down there and then I couldn't find you. I think I need to sit down for a little while. Mind finding me a chair?"

"Of course I will find one. Are you sure you do not want to leave?" he asked, hoping that she would say yes so that they could escape the chaos of the event.

Shaking her head, she gestured to the dance floor where Mr. Bass was setting up a microphone, "In a moment, I want to hear Mr. Bass's speech before we leave. Have you been with Mr. Finch this whole time?" she asked as she nodded her head towards her friend who was now standing with Dominic Stone.

Gritting his teeth briefly, he turned his head and smiled softly at Evey before nodding, "Yes, we were just having a chat. He found me hiding in the shadows."

Evey gave him a pitiful look before reaching for his hand to give it a squeeze, "I wish you wouldn't be so nervous to speak to others. Maybe it would do you some good to make friends?"

"Now you know I have no personal need for that," V said hurriedly as he helped her be seated close to the balcony to where she could see.

Giving him a face she made herself comfortable in the chair and awaited with V, Mr. Finch and Dominic to hear the speech Mr. Bass was about to give.

"My dear comrades of England, welcome to my London home. It is such an honor and pleasure to host you all here this evening," Mr. Bass began as people began to clap for him.

When they were finished, he continued, "This country has experienced so much pain and the grief that has followed has been unimaginable. We have seen things that other people around the world cannot even comprehend. The silence has been stiffening and we have struggled long enough. With the upcoming elections this November 5th to honor Guy Fawkes, V and most importantly Evey Hammond, it is our duty to change this country and to shape it to become better than how we found it by voting. These three people have paved the way for justice and it should inspire all of you to work hard to fight for our natural born freedoms and to obliterate hate and intolerance forever."

The crowd began to howl and more claps erupted from all three floors of the house. Distant shouts could be heard of people bashing Norsefire and a feeling of happiness overwhelmed Evey then as she witnessed the passion the crowd had for a new beginning. Could Willard Bass be the answer to all of their prayers?

As Mr. Bass wrapped up his speech, the crowd continued to explode with praise until the DJ played one last song to close out the evening. By this time V and Evey were making their way out of the apartment and saying goodbye to their friends. Mr. Finch gave V a knowing look before nodding at him and turning his attention to Evey as he gave her a brief kiss on the cheek.

"Mr. Coulson, Miss Hammond, I am so glad you could come this evening. It has truly been an honor having you both be here tonight," Mr. Bass said just as V and Evey began to leave.

"Thank you for having us, Mr. Bass. It has certainly been a pleasure," V said as he gave the man a firm handshake, "Also, perhaps if your schedule allows for it, it would certainly please Evey and I to have you at our home sometime for dinner. Are you available this week?"

A brief moment of surprise emerged on Mr. Bass's face before he grinned and nodded his head enthusiastically, "I would really enjoy that, Mr. Coulson. I do believe my schedule will be clear in the evenings for dinner. I will get in touch with Miss Hammond some time this week to figure out a day and time."

Both Evey and Mr. Finch gave V a bewildered look as he grinned and shook Mr. Bass's hand one more time before ushering Evey out the door. As they walked to the car, Evey took it upon herself to question V before they came in the presence of the driver, "Are you mad?" she spat, her eyes nearly popping out of their sockets as she tried to trace his face of any mischief.

"Of course not, my dear."

"Then what the hell was that?" she asked angrily.

"A new plan," he said quietly.


A/N: Hello everyone =^_^= It's been way too long since I have last posted a chapter! School and work have been taking up most of my time these past few months so it was hard for me to find time to write this chapter. I know there is so much fluff between V and Evey in this one, but I have to admit that I sort of planned on it being that way? I got very tired of reading fanfictions of them being awkward and weird with one another and wanted to write them more like how I would imagine them to be in the future and I hope that is refreshing and pleasing to you all as well! Anyways, I really hope you all have enjoyed reading this chapter and as always I have really enjoyed reading your comments and you all have been so lovely and encouraging and I very much appreciate that. Continue to let me know how I'm doing and hopefully I can start writing the next chapter very soon!

ALSO if any of you are wondering how I imagine V to look as Atticus I've actually been inspired by a younger Hugo Weaving. He was just the cutest back then ;) ~merimekko